The magic of Sicily in 10 days!
We chose the October half term for our trip as the temperature was cooler for our 10-day self-drive tour of the island. We planned to visit both the East and West of Sicily, and of course the capital city Palermo, which was to be our starting point.
Our 10 day tour would take us from Palermo to Mount Etna, Taormina and Noto visiting Mondello, Scopello, Cefalu and Ortigia on our way.
Day 1 - 4
We flew direct to Palermo and were immediately blessed with wonderful temperatures in the mid 20s.
We were staying in the heart of the old town on a street that literally came to life every evening with café tables filling up the once-quiet street which we loved! Palermo is a city of contrasts, with grand architecture juxtaposed with crumbling historic buildings, bustling street markets, cool bars and chic restaurants and an awe-inspiring Cathedral. Historic palaces and churches lie behind unassuming facades.
The diverse history of the island, with various periods of occupation, and times of both prosperity and poverty, can be seen at every turn which makes Palermo one of the most fascinating cities to visit in Europe. Our daughter absolutely loved the vibrancy of the city and of course the wonderful food, especially the traditional Cannoli and Sicilian gelato!
We took a day out of the city to visit Mondello, a picturesque seaside resort just a short drive from Palermo. We then drove further up the coast for lunch in Scopello, a beautiful village high up along the Castellammare del Golfo with views to die for, followed by a swim at the much photographed Spiaggia dei Faraglioni - a beauty spot on the waters edge, which was simply stunning.
Day 4-5
On day 4 we drove East towards Mount Etna, stopping off en-route in Cefalu, a charming coastal town just an hour from Palermo, which has a medieval old town, Norman cathedral and beach.
We journeyed on to the foothills of majestic Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. The rich, fertile soil makes this area one of the finest wine growing regions in Italy, so of course we had a wonderful meal enjoying local cuisine and wines.
Day 5 – 7
The next morning we arrived in Taormina, a beautiful Baroque town perched high on a hill overlooking the Ionian sea. Taormina is a must-visit destination when touring Sicily and whilst on the tourist trail, it still retains a timeless charm and authenticity with quaint streets lined with cafes and shops and a wonderful romantic ambience.
The highlight of Taormina is undoubtedly the well-preserved ancient Greek amphitheatre, offering views towards Mount Etna and the coast. We stayed in a small boutique hotel in the heart of the old town which was just perfect.
Taking a steep descent down on the cable car from Taormina, lies the stunning natural reserve of Isola Bella, ‘the pearl of the Ionian sea’, a small island of lush Mediterranean vegetation, connected to a pebble beach by a narrow sandbar. The nature reserve is known for its pristine beauty and is one of Italy’s most photographed beaches. Swimming right up next to Isola Bella, having seen so many photographs of this gorgeous spot, was amazing.
Day 7-10
The next destination on our tour of Eastern Sicily, was the beautiful city of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture. We were staying in a boutique hotel on the outskirts of Noto - the terrace providing a magical view over the city at night.
Given the relatively small size of Noto, the scale and majesty of the architecture is breathtaking. In 2002, Noto and its church were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the buildings have a honey tone which is captured beautifully at sunset. A gentle stroll along the main throughfare of the Corso Vittorio is a lovely way to see the magnificent sites of Noto.
We also took a to visit the Vendicari Nature Reserve which has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Southeastern coast of Sicily characterised by soft, almost white sand, and turquoise water.
We left Noto for our final destination - Ortigia - Sicily’s ancient island gem and the historical centre of Syracuse, connected to the mainland by two short bridges. It is only one square kilometre but there is no better insight into Sicily’s rich and diverse history than this tiny island.
With Baroque palaces, Greek temples, Jewish catacombs and a Medieval castle there is a lot of history to see. We made the most of our time by hiring a tuk-tuk driver and guide to whizz us around the island. Gianni, was great, taking us to see the main historical attractions ending up in Piazza Duomo, to sit and admire the architectural splendour with a cooling class of wine!
Our 10 day tour, whilst busy, was the perfect blend of discovery and relaxation and Sicily was as enchanting as I had imagined - I cannot wait to go back!
Sicily has a Mediterranean climate and is a perfect place to visit all year round, however it does get very warm in July and August, so avoid city tours at this time.
Direct flights are available to Palermo with scheduled and low-cost airlines, including Easy Jet, Ryanair and British Airways. You can also fly direct from the UK to Catania, on the East of the island and you can add Sicily on to an Italian tour and even get the train/ferry across the Strait of Messina – a truly unique experience.
If you want flexibility to tour around the island at your own pace, car hire is essential. We found driving was easy overall, with good roads, although a bit frenetic in the cities on occasions! There are also good train connections between cities.
Sicily has a wealth of accommodation options to suit all budgets, from beautiful 5* boutique hotels, to beach villas, countryside retreats and family hotels.
I hope this blog has inspired you to explore Sicily and call me to help tailor your perfect trip to this magical island.
